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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:40 a.m., Friday, September 19, 2008

Annual Hawaii coffee production about flat in latest season

The value of Hawai'i's coffee crop in the season ended earlier this year was about the same as the previous season, according to a report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The agency estimated statewide farm revenue from coffee in the 2007/08 season at $31.88 million, up slightly from $31.82 million in the prior season.

A small increase in acreage harvested in the latest season led to slightly higher production that was mostly offset by a small decline in prices.

Some 830 farms harvested coffee on 6,400 acres to produce 7.5 million pounds of coffee in the most recent season. That was up from 820 farms harvesting coffee on 6,300 acres to produce 7.4 million pounds a season earlier.

The average price per pound paid to farmers was $4.25 in the most recent season, down from $4.30 a season earlier.

Farmers on the Big Island produced 3.9 million pounds of coffee in the most recent season, down from 4 million pounds a season earlier, while the average price paid per pound rose by 10 cents to $6.50.

Farmers on Kaua'i, Maui and O'ahu collectively produced 3.4 million pounds in the most recent season, up from 3.3 million pounds a season earlier, while the average price paid per pound fell nearly 2 cents to $1.81.